Tracking down an elusive TV series

Thursday

Nov 14, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 14, 2013 at 2:30 AM

I'm a big fan of White Collar, the convict-turned-FBI-assistant series. It was into its fourth season before I discovered the show. I watched the first three on Netflix, but I can't find the fourth anywhere. Do you know where I should be looking?

I'm a big fan of White Collar, the convict-turned-FBI-assistant series. It was into its fourth season before I discovered the show. I watched the first three on Netflix, but I can't find the fourth anywhere. Do you know where I should be looking?

— Tammy J., Medford

We may lack the wit and whim of Neal Caffrey, but we were able to track down the elusive fourth season of White Collar, thanks to a local television insider.

It's been really interesting to see how these program contracts have developed over the years.

Decades ago, we are told, after a network television show reached the 100-episode mark, local TV stations could bid for rights to air reruns during locally programmed time slots. With the rise of cable — adding scores of new channels — those networks began buying up shows for rerun as well.

Add to the mix VHS releases, DVD complete-season boxed sets and, most recently, instant streaming, and you can see how the trail of your favorite series can quickly turn cold.

"Now there are a number of outlets that want these reruns and all compete to get them — which makes it messy for viewers trying to catch up on previous seasons of shows like 'White Collar,' " said Kingsley Kelley, the vice president and general manager at CBS affiliate KTVL-TV in Medford.

USA Network originated White Collar back in 2009, and as Tammy pointed out, the 2010 and 2011 seasons migrated to Netflix. The fifth, and apparently final, season recently began. But what about season four?

Season four is only on Amazon Instant Video for $1.99 per episode or $24.99 for the entire season. That's about four months worth of Netflix charges.

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